Huh. So I see that GS has finally changed face. To be honest, I like it. Sure, it will take some time to figure out where everything is, but it's not gonna kill me. I look forward to the updates to both the forums and the unions.

In other news, I have been doing some hearty gaming here in Arlington. For starters, I broke out my copy of Diamond and created a team of my favorite Pokemon. Sandslash, Masquerain, Linoone, Flygon, Cyndaquil, and Mudkip. Right now, the Cyndaquil is a Quilava and the Mudkip is a Marshtomp. The Quilava's name is Anakin, and the Marshtomp's name is Kenobi. I even tried to get their natures to reflect their SW alteregos. Man, I can't tell you how sickeningly adorable it was to have a Mudkip named Kenobi, haha. It's a real shame that it's no fun at all to level up Pokemon in D/P. The fields are all filled with the same four Pokemon and it seems as though my Pokemon's types are always putting them at a disadvantage. =/

Besides Diamond, I've also gotten the chance to play Super Mario Galaxy. In fact, I beat it. With 69 stars (can't believe it only takes 60 stars to get to the final Bowser battle). I started a new save on my brother's roommate's game and just couldn't stop playing it once I started. It took me the last four days, but I did it. That game is FUN! And I lost track of the number of "I can't believe I just did that. That was too cool!" moments. Walljumping up waterfalls as Ice Mario was perhaps one of the coolest things I'd experienced. The level design is just outrageous. Even after beating the game, I still don't think I've gotten used to running around upside down and all around, you know, those crazy camera angles. I kinda miss being able to control the camera so strictly like I was able to do in SM64 and Sunshine, but the game still plays flawlessly. And I love the new power-ups, and the return of oldies. I do have to say though, that it was very wierd that I was able to beat the game so quickly. I found the game challenging, to be sure, but I guess I've just become really good at 3D Mario games over the years. SM64 took me half a year to complete. SMS took me a while, as well. So yeah...I think I'm going to write up a review for the game even though I don't own it.

Well, I'll be back home in two days, so til then. :)

Good morning!

I'd, uh, typed up these two reviews yesterday evening - taking a break from reading for a day - but decided to wait until today to post links to them in the blog since I'd already written two blog posts yesterday. So, here they are.

Hourglass , Diamond

I know that I'm probably going to get a bunch of grief for what I've written in both of them, but I don't care. Both games disappointed me in certain ways. I'm not going to look the other way and proclaim the games as better than they actually are. So, read and thumb them if you wish. Just know that if what I've said bothers you, it's only my opinion.

As of a few minutes ago, Funky retired from his one year post as my user icon. He took me and some of you to great heights with his Flights, but his air surfing days are at an end here at my corner of GS. In his place, a worthy replacement. Someone who can no doubt handle the responsibilities that being an awesome user icon entails. Someone who is already a Master at something far greater than even teh internets. Everyone, I'd like you to meet Jedi Master Obi Wan Kenobi.

This is definitely one of the coolest pictures I've ever found of him. Once I found it, I knew it right away that it would be perfect as my new icon. Funny enough, I was shooting for a Star Wars icon all along but had my sights on one of either Mara Jade or Jaina Solo (since they're both quite strong (and hot) women). Then this pic came along and well, maybe the ladies will take his place sometime down the road, or replace the blog pic anyway.

I know it will take most of you some time to get used to, especially if you really liked my Funky icon or it was the only moving icon in your "tracked blogs" column. But you'll adapt. 8)

Today seems to be the day for short and possibly random blog posts, so here's mine.

Avoid the Star Wars novel entitled The Crystal Star at all costs. It is sooo BAD!

I'm gonna try to return it to Borders tomorrow.

I have never been much of a sports fan. I have certainly never been a fan of Nascar or any other type of competitive racing. But I have bought some racing games in my life. I own two for the N64, Mario Kart 64 and Diddy Kong Racing. Both were great fun. When the DS first came out, even with my initial doubts about my purchase, I knew it would only be a matter of time before a racing game came out for the system that I'd want to buy. Enter Mario Kart DS. I couldn't believe how amazing the game was. I mean, I had my doubts about this game. Screenshots posted before the game's release did not look enticing or attractive. This was before I watched gameplay vids online. Eventually what hooked me in was the Mario Kart brand itself. I'd owned every iteration thus far, why stop now. It's never turned me down, never sucked. So I bought it because it was Mario Kart and I was absolutely blown away from my first lap.

Several months later, it was time for E3 2006. I remember this E3 fondly because it brought news of three games that showed huge promise: New Super Mario Bros., Yoshi's Island DS, and Diddy Kong Racing DS. At one point, I owned all three. Now, I only own two of them. The only DS game I've ever sold back, it's the only one that has ever truly disappointed me. DKR DS. Why? Because there are so many things wrong with it. Perhaps not game-breaking issues, but they bugged me enough that I couldn't tolerate them. They changed Taj's voice, they added gimmicky touch screen content, they completely ruined the pre-race boost mechanics, the sense of speed was gone, they completely wrecked the feel of the hovercraft, the graphics seemed a bit below the original's, and so on. I had the game for two weeks before I wished I'd asked my brother to get me a WoW game card instead (this was his bday present for me last year). Even though the previews and reviews all said the game was mediocre at best, I still had faith that it would be good fun for me. Using the same logic as I did for getting MKDS, I went for it and paid the price for my optimism. I've never gotten over it, primarily because I absolutely loved the original Diddy Kong Racing and a portable version of it just made my heart leap for joy. It disappointed me to such an extent that I just couldn't believe how horrible it was.

It's been over a year since the whole DKR DS fiasco, and while I haven't intentionally been looking for a second racing game for my DS collection, I just may have found one. Intriguing me with its promise of a quality track editor and impressive graphics, it has won me over in no time at all. What is this game that I am referring to? Trackmania DS, of course. Watch the vid behind the link and see for yourself why I just may have found my next handheld racing fix. No cute animals here. Just hardcore roller coaster tracks.

Finally, I've found a picture to replace the old one of Link defeating the evil PSP monster. My profile page has gained 15 bad*** points as a result. The only bad thing is that my profile now SCREAMS Donkey Kong while my username still does not. Honestly, I have no idea why I chose that to be my username. It's so simple and lame and uncool, as opposed to nearly every other username I see on this site (except for the ones that are like CloudRulzFF7 or MastaChafe or something). It's a real shame that you can't change your username at will on GS. Oh well. At least my profile page looks cooler.

P.S. Sorry if I sound slightly out of my mind. It's way past my bedtime. :P

Let me just start out by saying that I can't believe it's almost the start of August already. The days just fly by when you're busy, or having fun, or busy having fun. I've been busy having fun for the past few weeks. Two weekends ago, my entire family (my mom's side) took a trip into upstate New York to a place called Mohonk Mountain House. Has anybody ever heard of it? If you haven't, be very ashamed, because it is an absolutely wonderful place. It's a place guaranteed to provide an adventure, along with lots of natural beauty to gaze at. Before this trip, the last time any of us had been there was fourteen years ago. I was eight. Vivid memories stayed with me through all these years and when we first arrived recently, I could not believe how accurate my memories were to the truth. It was just as I'd remembered it, in so many ways. And on top of that, they'd added a bunch of things, like a new indoor pool and expanded swimming area in the lake. It was such a great time. It was three days I will never forget, just like fourteen years ago. If you ever get the chance to go there (though, watch out. It's mighty expensive!), I hightly recommend you do.

Besides the family trip, I've been spending my time reading more Star Wars novels and acquiring more vg soundtracks. My newest additions are the OSTs for Wave Race 64, Kirby Superstar (I blame my excitement about the upcoming KSS Ultra game), and last but not least, Jumping Flash. Does anybody else remember that game? I think it was a launch title for the PS1. My cousin owned it, and I have fond memories of me and my brother forcing him to play it whenever we over his house. We had him play it so much one time he beat it! I have his copy of the game now, and like many of the other games whose soundtracks I have, the music just never left me. I obtained a partial soundtrack from KH Insider, but I decided that that was no longer good enough for me and decided to try my hand at doing a game rip. It was my first attempt at doing so, and thanks to a tutorial I found on Youtube (yes, the site can actually be helpful and useful), my attempt was a success. I now have a complete soundtrack. 8) Now as for the novels, I spent all of last week reading through the Thrawn trilogy and am currently up to the second book in the Jedi Academy trilogy, Dark Apprentice. It's been interesting trying to get used to the change in tone present in the New Republic books, primarily because it's completely fictional. And what I mean by that (since duh, all of Star Wars is fictional...though I really wish lightsabers were real) is that it's stuff that is never even minutely covered in any of the films. Han and Leia are married now, Leia is training to be a Jedi herself and has her own lightsaber, they have three children and as such their priorities have changed, Luke is more powerful and wise and very much not what he was when he first joined the Rebel Alliance. It's the characters I've known for years, in roles I've never seen them in before. It's been really interesting. But while it's been wierd to get used to, I love it all the same and am always eager for the next book. My goal, even with job searching to become my top priority next month, is to get through all of the New Republic era books I own before the summer is over or I start working, which ever comes first. Basically, before the end of next month. That means I've got another ten books to go, just about. I think I'll make it.

Also, now that it's almost August, it's the time of year when the back of my mind starts throwing not-so-subtle suggestions to the front of my mind for me to start working on my Christmas list. Yes, I still follow the childhood tradition of making Christmas lists, even though I'm twenty-two. Who cares. People aren't forcefully obligated to get me the items on my list. They just do because they know I'll enjoy them. Well, this year, I've already got my list pretty much in order. One good thing to come out of E3 was release dates and as a result, I know that at least tentatively, I can put down four of the DS games I've been tracking down onto the list. They are Chrono Trigger DS, Kirby Superstar Ultra, Lego Batman, and Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia. So what if two of the games are enhanced ports. I'm excited for them. Also going onto the list is a new digital camera. At the moment, I'm interested in a Sony Cybershot DSC-W120, the same model that my two cousins own. Currently, I have a Nikon Coolpix 3100 that I got over five years ago. With the exception of the first half a year after getting it, I haven't been too happy with it. I've seen my cousins use theirs at gatherings such as the recent vacation and I've grown quite impressed by their cameras. Bigger display screen, more MPs, better optical zoom, instant picture take, smile capture tech, and whatever else. My pictures never come out as I feel they should, and I'm always having to edit them to death for them to look even somewhat nice. It drives me crazy. Well, anyway, I know that's going to be a bit pricey and it's been a while since I asked for anything expensive for Christmas (I got my 30GB video iPod for Christmas two years ago, but I didn't ask for it). It's been just DS games and DVDs for me that past few years. I almost feel bad about asking for something so pricey, given the current gas prices and cost of living and such, but it would be nice. I think I'd be more upset if I had to spend my own money to buy those four DS games than I would if I didn't get the camera. I know the camera's a long shot.

Well that's my Christmas list. Does anybody else have their holiday wish list all set up? What are you looking forward to unwrapping this year?

To continue, yes, I have also checked out the GS Beta. I think that for the most part, it's cool, but there is much that could be improved. The console pages seem cluttered. I think bright outlines around the different sections would help greatly. Besides that, I think the biggest flaws lie within the profile pages. It seems that most GSers would agree. What the heck is up with that minifeed? WHO CARES! Give me my tracked blogs, front and right-margined. At least ten visible at once, please. And if you're going to only allow eight emblems to be shown at once, can I at least decide which eight will be shown? Can I also customize where everything will go, if not simply so that the size of the sections will change, like in Facebook? And what's with not showing the entire blog posts? Another thing I don't understand is why the site is still a narrow column. Can't the site take up the entire screen like Giant Bomb and practically every other site on the web does? Please, I implore you, if you have checked out the Beta and have an opinion about it regarding things you didn't like and improvements you think could be made, click the link at the top right of the Beta homepage and fill out the survey. It may help.

My final remark for the night has to do with a little game called FFIV DS. As you may or may not know, I'd been looking forward to the game for a long time. I'd looked at screenshots, watched videos, read every little bit of typed info on it I could find. Nothing could really have prepared me for how truly awesome the game is. It's such a huge step up from FF3, it's not even funny. And I'm not just saying that because there's an actual story going on this time. The graphics have greatly improved, the music is better... It's just astounding. I was hooked within my first hour of gameplay. The game looks and sounds even better in person. I can't wait to play it through. I would have spent all last week doing so, but I really want to reach that literary goal of mine. And so FFIV has been put on hold. For now. But I'll get to it. I will certainly make sure of that. And to all of you who are on the fence about getting the game, just get it. You will not regret it.

I apologize to those of you who are actually reading this, as I just want to get what I'm going to say out of my system.

What the heck is the deal with me going away for the entire weekend (including Friday) and coming back to still not have my golden E3 live show emblem? What the heck! I watched like three hours of the blasted thing the last day...

Alrighty, here's the deal. Coming into this E3, I was really only excited about two things: what Nintendo would announce and what new information people would be able to gather about CTDS. I heard before the expo even started that a demo of the game would be available for play at the SE booth/arena. So I knew it would only be a matter of time before some tasty morsels of new information about the port would surface. And surface they did. A lot of my questions have been answered, thankfully. And now, I'd like to share all this information with you all, in case you guys haven't been scouring the internet as I have, looking for any bit of new info on the game that you can. My sources include IGN, 1UP, and DS Fanboy. GS is missing from the list only because by the time they got around to posting their preview, I'd already seen the other sites' previews. No harm done, I suppose, but to tell you the truth, it's really starting to annoy me that GS is so consistently behind on providing updates on DS games. I see everything they post days or even weeks before they post it, thanks to the sites aforementioned. I doubt fans of the consoles have this problem. /endrant

Sorry about that guys. I don't know what got into me. Getting back on track, here's all the new information I've found. If you've already seen it before, great. Please don't be rude towards me for posting "old information", if that seems to be the case for you. I've already experienced plenty of that. In any other case, I hope this makes your day.

- The anime cutscenes from the PS1 version are included.

- The touchscreen displays an automap of the room you're currently in that will show more of itself as you explore the place.

- You can also use the touchscreen to move Crono, much like you were able to move the guy from Dragon Sword and Link in Phantom Hourglass.

- Battling can also be done using the touchscreen by navigating through a series of menus. The actual game will still be on top, I believe.

- There are revisions/expansions to the dialogue. For instance, in the Super Nintendo version, when Crono's mother awakens him at the game's outset, she keeps it short and to the point, saying, "Ah, Leene's Bell makes such beautiful music! You were so excited about the Millennial Fair that you didn't sleep well, did you…? I want you to behave yourself today!" Now she is a bit more chatty, saying, "Dear me, I forgot how beautiful Lenee's bells sound. You must have been so excited about the Millenial Fair that you couldn't sleep last night, could you? Well, you had better not let that giddiness get you into any trouble. I want you to behave yourself today!"

- There are two meters visible directly beside your character. The orange meter on the top shows your health, and the green meter on the bottom charges while you get ready for the next attack. You can see the names of the enemies that you are battling on the touch screen.

- The game can be navigated entirely by using the stylus.

- A single-screen version of the game, just as it appeared on the SNES, is planned to be included on the cartridge.

I think all that remains now is for us to get to see some dual-screen gameplay vids to see all this information in action (oh, and seeing what the multiplayer and WiFi options will be). As it stands, I'm a little unsure and confused. I mean, have they altogether replaced the battle menu that showed your characters' names, their bars, and how much HP and TP they had left, replacing it with two RTS-like bars? Another question I have is whether or not it's possible to start up a NewGame+ file using a different version of the game than the one you initially beat the game with.